New Manzanita Councilor will likely sign South Cherry Street Trail petition (Click Link to Read the Petition)
The Classic Ridge Trail Access Committee (TAC) might have a friend in Jerry Spegman, the newly-elected member of the Manzanita City Council. Spegman, who finished first among the four Council candidates on the November ballot and will take office in January, acknowledged that controversies surrounding beach access for Classic Ridge played no real role in the election.
The TAC ally and advocate for the Cherry Trail Thomas Aschenbrener finished a close third, losing his bid for reelection after serving four years on the Council. He was a strong advocate of the TAC and will be sorely missed. “Losing him will be a big setback,” Spegman said in a recent interview with the TAC.
For his part, Spegman focused most of his attention on Manzanita’s Short-Term Rental (he advocates capping the number of STR’s) issue, and the construction of a new and much larger City Hall (he strongly opposes City Hall expansion plans).
“I’m excited about the work the Trail Committee is doing,” Spegman said. “My inclination is to be supportive of the work it is doing. I like its grassroots efforts. They have put together a great model for Manzanita.” Spegman, who worked 20 years as a public health policy analyst and retired in Manzanita in 2018, added that he is not enamored with the so-called “Manzanita Way.”
“Manzanita is a petri dish of smart, affluent people who are filled with lots of great ideas. I’m not sure why we should be afraid of conflict, which is the ‘Manzanita Way.’ “Conflict is healthy.” The Council, Spegman went on, “[There] has developed a culture where there seems to be an aura of consensus. They want everything to be decided by a 5-0 vote.” Spegman added, “I’m not sure where I stand with any member of the Council. Right now, I might stand out as the skunk at the picnic.”
The Councilor-elect, who lives on Madrona Street, a few blocks south of the top of the ridge, conceded he doesn’t fully understand all the complexities associated with building a hiking trail through the designated city right-of-way on vacated Ocean Avenue, west of Cherry Street. Still, “I’ll probably sign the petition,” he said. “From what I do know, though, I’m generally supportive of a Cherry Street trail.”
The petition, drawn up earlier this month by the TAC, has garnered more than 175 signatures (and growing). It asks the City of Manzanita to build the South Cheery Street trail, arguing that it is not only in the public interest, but is vital to ensure public safety, in that it provides an escape route in case of a tsunami.
As for the Doris Davis Trail, which runs along a dirt path, from University Avenue down to Beach Street – and is located in unincorporated Tillamook County – Spegman predicts that the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners are likely to punt on the matter. “They are going to say, ‘Let’s just wait to see how the judge rules on the law suit.’”
Spegman is referring to the pending suit filed on September 1, that is asking a Tillamook County Circuit Court to remove the barrier that a pair of antagonistic property owners erected in April to cutoff the trail from public access (Petition to come soon).
It is important to note that the Doris Davis trail has little to do with the City of Manazanita's ability to allow the community to access The Cherry Trail (via the established City right-of-way). The lawsuit for Doris Davis trail is private matter in a location that is out of their jurisdiction. Simply put, it is not their concern, nor is it in their power to influence the outcome.
TAC has been very clear that it is the City of Manzanita's responsibility to allow beach access via the dune (that has been accessible for over 60 years). TAC is encouraging the City to recognize the laws of adverse possession and easement by necessity -- both of which are applicable in this case. But most importantly, The City right-of-way is for the use by the community, not one select property owner.
TAC is looking forward to hearing how the City plans to address TAC concerns during the next City Council meeting next month.
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